Gold ring

Roman Britain, 2nd - 3rd century AD
From Corbridge, Northumberland

A token of affection

This ring has an inscription in Greek reading 'POLEMIOU
PHILTRON', ('the love-token of Polemios'). The ring is a large one,
and was probably worn by a man. The inscription suggests that it
was a love-token to, rather than from, Polemios, or alternatively,
the gift of affection may have been exchanged between two men.

There is other certain evidence for Greek-speakers at the site
of Corbridge, where this ring was found, but in fact, as Greek was
the universal language of the Eastern Roman Empire, it must have
been widely spoken in Britain by the many immigrants from the
eastern provinces. Intricate pierced work in gold, producing an
effect like fine lace, is an outstanding feature of late-Roman and
Byzantine jewellery, though it began as early as the second
century. Inscriptions including personal names are sometimes worked
into the pierced patterns, and when this is the case, the ornament
must have been specifically made to order for the customer.